Comcast SportsNet Houston becomes new TV home of the Dynamo

The Houston Dynamo have entered into a multiyear partnership with Comcast SportsNet Houston (CSN) as its official Regional Sports Network, it was announced today.

The two sides have reached a three-year agreement that will make CSN the home for Dynamo soccer from 2013 through 2015. CSN will air approximately 15 to 20 Dynamo games per season. In addition to games, CSN will produce live pregame and postgame shows, a weekly in-season magazine show, a monthly offseason show, a preseason preview, a postseason wrap up special, and a behind-the-scenes documentary series.

“The key thing was finding a television partner who believes in the Dynamo and shares the passion and commitment for growing the game," said Dynamo president Chris Canetti. “CSN is that partner and is demonstrating its commitment through high-quality match production and an array of in-depth programming that will be rich with content and fuel discussion about the team.”

“The Dynamo’s success in MLS has been matched by a devoted and enthusiastic fan base,” CSN president and general nanager Matt Hutchings said. “We’re pleased to add their matches to our lineup, as well as give fans unprecedented access to the team with our related programming.”

As part of their agreement, the Dynamo and CSN will partner with KPRC Local 2 (NBC) to air a select number of Dynamo games. A finalized broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date.

“We couldn’t be more pleased that CSN and the Houston Dynamo, two of our favorite partners, have signed a three-year agreement,” said KPRC vice president and general manager Jerry Martin. “We look forward to continuing work closely with both of them throughout the length of this partnership and beyond.”

The Dynamo join the Astros and Rockets as the third major league sports franchise in Houston to be partnered with CSN.

The Dynamo will play a minimum of 41 games in 2013 between the MLS regular season, CONCACAF Champions League and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. 40 of those games are scheduled to be on TV, and 18 of them will be nationally televised on ESPN2, NBC Sports Net, UniMás, or FOX Soccer Channel. Through this partnership, 21 games will be carried regionally between CSN and KPRC.

“From a media and broadcast perspective, the CSN commitment is unlike anything the Dynamo has experienced in our seven-year history,” Canetti continued. “It is one of the best television deals in MLS and symbolizes the incredible growth and development of our club and League.”

The first Dynamo game broadcast on CSN is Saturday, March 23 when the Dynamo host the Vancouver Whitecaps at BBVA Compass Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The pre-season preview show will debut on Monday, February 25 at 6:30 p.m. The first weekly magazine show, called Dynamo Weekly, will debut on Thursday, March 7 at 4 p.m.

CSN’s broadcast region includes parts of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico. It is currently carried on Comcast Cable (channels 39/639 in the Houston area, 86/1688 in Houma, La Place and Shreveport, LA, and 269, 1687 in Little Rock, AR). It is also carried on EnTouch (channels 73/473 in the Houston area), Coastal Link (channels 31/131 in Brazoria County, TX), Phonoscope (channels 31/131 in the Houston area), and Consolidated Communications (channels 42/723 in the Houston area). The network is not limited to Comcast Cable customers. Fans that don’t have one of the TV providers listed above can call 1-800-4CSNHOUSTON or visit IWantCSNHouston.com to let their provider know they want the network.

The Dynamo open the 2013 season on Saturday, March 2 when they host D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium in a rematch of the 2012 Eastern Conference Championship. Tickets for that match are now available to the general public through www.houstondynamo.com/tickets or 713-276-GOAL.